Empowering Young Migrants: NYC Shelter Launches Unique Girl Scout Troop

Earlier this year, around 100 new Girl Scouts visited the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island to learn their history and how New York City has been a beacon for migrants. The youths, who are migrant children staying at a city-run shelter, are part of a new Girl Scout troop—comprised entirely of young asylum seekers. The Girl Scouts of Greater New York created the new troop in January to welcome young asylum seekers into their fold amidst a city-wide increase in migrant arrivals. Leaders had to retool their traditional program for the new troop, including translating materials into Spanish and creating a curriculum to teach girls about navigating the city and U.S. civics. The new group, part of Troop 6000, has provided a community for the girls, many of whom have endured long separations from family members. Membership numbers for the Girl Scouts of Greater New York have doubled, with 1000 of the 20,415 scouts being a part of Troop 6000. Although facing challenges, the new Girl Scout troop is providing hope and a community for migrant girls in the city.